Socialization via Interscholastic Athletics: Its Effects on Educational Attainment

Abstract

The present study was designed to assess the influence of athletics on educational attainment. It tested Spady's (1970) contention that high school athletes were deficit in the academic skills necessary for later success in college because athletics were their only form of extracurricular involvement. A 1975 Maryland sample (N = 239) and a 1977 Pennsylvania sample (N = 403) of male and female high school students were categorized into athlete-only and athlete-service groups and then compared on Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores. Comparisons were also made to the national average for males and females. Results from both samples supported Spady's contention for males, but not for females. Athlete-only males were significantly lower (p ≤ .01) than the 1975 and 1977 male national averages. By contrast, athlete-service males were significantly higher than the 1975 male national average. The findings are discussed in terms of the influence exerted by significant others (e.g., parents, coaches) to encourage athletic participation exclusively, often at the expense of other extracurricular activities that may foster positive academic attitudes and expectations.

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